Over the years a few times I've been approached by people who ask permission to remix, modify or otherwise take one of my photos as a source or inspiration for their own work. Usually I say yes, and appreciate them asking. A couple times people have also asked if they can print one of our photos, I think some people hang erotic art in their dungeons, etc. It's very flattering when someone likes your work enough to want to hang it up - even in their sex den (perhaps especially in their sex den!)
Yesterday someone contacted me saying they had been commissioned to paint an oil painting of one of my photos, if I would agree. They said they would pay. Not totally out of the ordinary of previous requests. They were also a little vague about the details, said their client was in a hurry and finally their profile was young, with only a couple (fairly nice) paintings posted. I was vaguely suspicious, but no harm in saying yes and seeing where it leads.
I got this reply:
"My client be paying through check and it will be written in your name and sent to you since we’re in collaboration"
Wee-ooo-wweeee-ooooo goes my scam alert. If I were to go along with this they'd send me a check for more then "my share" of the commission, say the overage was a mistake, and tell me to send the difference straight to the artist, or some similar variation. A week later my bank would claw back the payment I got, because it was a fraudulent check, and I'd be out whatever I had forwarded to the "artist". For final confirmation I reverse imaged search the paintings on their profile, and they're by a real artist named David Rees (the scammer called themselves Rebecca). Classic setup for a check overpayment scam. Kinda old school - the FTC posted a warning about check overpayment scams way back in 2004.
While I'm certain this is a scammer, I told them that sounded like a scam, and I only would accept payment through a deviantart commission. They have not replied, and probably won't - no point since they know I won't fall for it, they'll move on to messaging someone else.
Which is why I'm posting this. Scams are far more sophisticated then they were 20 years ago. Gone are the days of Nigerian princes with poor grammer, they're been replaced with more targeted, plausible and developed scam plots. The messages they sent me were fairly plausible up until the check part - and this person who messaged me wasn't particularly skilled. Some scammers are much more clever young/smart/successful people are falling for scams at an alarming rate. Gen Z falls for online scams at a higher rate then their grandparents do. Don't assume you're immune because you're young or tech savvy. John Oliver did an excellent segment recently that pretty much everyone should watch about Pig Butchering.
It's very flattering as an artist when someone likes my work enough to want to print or remix it. It's obviously also tempting to be offered a nice payment in return. I want to let my fellow creators know that while this site feels niche, and the kinds of work we're creating are not mainstream, keep your guard up here, just like everywhere else.
Upcoming photoshoot ideas
Me and the Mrs. are planning a photoshoot in the next couple weeks. If there's a particular outfit, pose or restraint you want to see, please comment here. We also picked up a few new toys and outfits:
- "sailor moon" style outfit
- satin button up blouse
- striped prison bikini
- french style corset
- white armbinder
- white and black hoods
- a bunch of purple rope
So we'll be using most or all of the above too!